The New York State Education Department notes that in-state graduation rates are on the rise, with over 73 percent of students who entered high school in 2006 graduating in 2010. Graduating from a New York high school, and joining the growing number of teens who earn a diploma, means fulfilling all of the state's education requirements.

Regents Exam Requirements

New York high schools provide students with two graduation options. The basic high school diploma is a Regents diploma. The Regents exams include assessments in subjects that all students must complete during high school. According to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, the regular Regents requirements include exams in comprehensive English, global history, U.S. history, science and a language other than English. Additionally, students must take one math exam. Unlike advanced designation students, who must take a combination of two or three exams, regular Regents students don't need to take a combination of assessments in mathematics.

Regents Coursework

The New York Department of Education notes that to graduate, students who are on the Regents level must take at least at least 22 units of required courses. These includes four units of English courses, four units of social studies -- including one credit in American history, a half unit in economics and a half unit in participation of government -- three units of mathematics, three units in the sciences, 1,200 minutes of hands-on science laboratory classes, one unit in the arts -- either visual arts, music, drama or dance -- and one unit of a foreign language. Additionally, students must also complete a half unit of health education, two physical education credits and three units of electives. Following the completion of these credits, students may take specialized courses that go into more depth in a chosen subject area.

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Advanced Designation Exam

Students who excel scholastically may opt for the advanced designation graduation option. In addition to the exams for Regents graduates, advanced designation exam requirements also include one extra test in the sciences, so that students take one exam each in the physical and life sciences. The mathematics requirements for advanced designation Regents students include a combination of exams that local school commissioners approve. Students must pass either a two- or three-exam combination that includes topics such as intermediate algebra, trigonometry, geometry and integrated algebra.

Advanced Designation Courses

Advanced designation Regents students must take the same 22 credits as regular Regents students. While these 22 units already include one unit of foreign language coursework, advanced designation students must also take two additional units of a language other than English. They then must take the Regents exam that tests knowledge of that language.

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About the Author

Based in Pittsburgh, Erica Loop has been writing education, child development and parenting articles since 2009. Her articles have appeared in "Pittsburgh Parent Magazine" and the website PBS Parents. She has a Master of Science in applied developmental psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education.